India to meet goal of reducing emissions by 2020: PM

India to meet goal of reducing emissions by 2020: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said India is committed to meeting its domestic mitigation goal of reducing the emissions intensity of GDP by 20-25 percent by 2020.

Addressing at the Inaugural Session of Delhi Sustainable Development Summit Singh said: "Our country is committed to meeting its domestic mitigation goal of reducing the emissions intensity of our GDP by 20-25 per cent by year 2020 compared with 2005 levels.

We have already taken several major steps on the path of low carbon growth. Now is the time for the richer industrialised countries to show that they too are willing to move decisively along this path."

"If they fail to do that in the commitments they will make under the Kyoto Protocol and other agreements, then it will be difficult to persuade governments, industry and the general public in India and other developing countries to step up the pace at which they are moving on this path," he added.

India to meet goal of reducing emissions by 2020: PM

Stating that the climate change has become the face of many challenges in our pursuit of sustainable development, Dr. Singh said: "This problem can only be tackled through coordinated global action. It is therefore crucial to look at sustainable development from a global rather than a purely national perspective.

Nevertheless, given the varying levels of development across the world, it is important that our responses be predicated on the principle of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities."

"I am happy that the recent Doha climate conference reaffirmed these principles. They should form the bedrock of future arrangements post-2020 and we should ensure that the development aspirations and poverty reduction efforts of the developing countries are not constrained," he added.

"The adoption of a second commitment period till 2020 under the Kyoto Protocol for emissions reductions by the industrialised world is also a welcome development. But, real progress cannot be achieved if developed countries are not willing to enhance their ambition levels," he said.

India to meet goal of reducing emissions by 2020: PM

Asserting that the global environmental agenda and the global development agenda are now closely inter-linked, with the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development providing a sound framework, Singh said: "We have witnessed an extraordinary and welcome growth of environmental consciousness in the world and we can take great satisfaction from the fact that sustainable development today is an accepted and integral part of international discourse."

"The global environmental agenda and the global development agenda are now closely inter-linked, with the economic, environmental and social pillars of sustainable development providing a sound framework. The Rio principles of 1992 are still seen as relevant and fundamental, and were reaffirmed at Rio+20," he added.

India to meet goal of reducing emissions by 2020: PM

Emphasising that we in India are fully conscious of the need to conserve our resources through their utilization in a truly sustainable manner, Dr. Singh said: "We believe that efficient use of resources has to begin with ensuring the efficiency of use of human resources, and this requires building skills, capabilities and systems by which countries can ensure higher efficiency in every human endeavour.

In Hyderabad last year, I announced an allocation of $50 million as part of the Hyderabad pledge to strengthen the institutional mechanisms for biodiversity conservation in India," he added.

India to meet goal of reducing emissions by 2020: PM

Asserting that the growing populations, changing consumption patterns and the consequent pressure on precious natural resources are real challenges that we face in our pursuit of economic growth and the amelioration of poverty, Singh said: "This in turn will demand re-engineering our economies in ways that are both frugal and innovative in their use of scarce resources."

"This is where we must look for solutions in the future. India looks forward to working closely with the global community in this endeavour," he added.